They say time is precious – but if this hilarious collection of images is anything to go by, some people have far too much of it on their hands, so much so that they seem to go out of their way to use it up on pointless tasks.
In a series of pictures shared on social media and compiled in a side-splittingly funny gallery, people reveal the most painfully-obvious – and unbelievably pointless – things they have ever seen, from ridiculous signs, to completely ludicrous ads.
And it seems no industry is safe from these brilliant blunders, be it grocery stores promoting ‘freshly squeezed orange juice – made with freshly squeezed orange’ or a match company which not-so-helpfully warns users that ‘fire harms children’.
Other totally brainless blunders included a TV news report advising viewers that snow melts into water, and a newspaper that advised its readers that a new study had found out-of-town trips require travel.
Those hoping to make a quick buck also deployed some cringe-worthy tactics that shoppers saw through immediately – from a second-hand car dealership claiming all cars were priced under $4,000, ‘except for the ones that are more’, to a cleaning brand offering two smaller bottles for the same price as a larger one.
Twice as nice: This orange juice brand felt the need to remind shoppers what they were buying by repeating the same information on the label twice
Take your seat: Just to avoid any confusion, one person put a sign saying ‘Broken Chair’ on a very obviously broken chair
Speculate to accumulate: A Fox News reporter told viewers to increase their chances at winning the lottery by buying more tickets
Child’s play: A brand of matches used a picture of a match-stick child on fire to warn against a child dying from catching fire
Two for one: This detergent brand felt the need to spell out that two 40oz bottles contain the same amount as one 80oz bottle
Milking it: This label for a bottle of milk helpfully warned that contains… milk
Science fiction: Believe it or not, one weather station told its viewers that snow turns to water when it melts
You don’t say: Rain creating dry roads would definitely have been more newsworthy
After hours: This library didn’t want to commit to conventional opening hours
Spelling it out: Because so many people confuse doors with garbage cans…
Bum deal: Here’s hoping nobody confused this blocked pipe for a toilet
View from the top: This bottle top warning instructs the person drinking the bottle to remove the cap before drinking, but is only visible if they’ve already done so
Fine print: This second-hand car lot hoped to entice buyers by telling them everything was priced at $4,000, except for the more expensive cars
Bedtime stories: One study found that more intercourse equaled a higher rate of conception
Hunger pains: A dry cleaners warned its customers against swallowing wire hangers with a very literal illustration of what would happen if they did
Power play: A fire alarm brand went to great lengths to alert people the battery had removed
Going nuts: Just to avoid any confusion, this store made clear that its peanuts contain peanuts
Knock knock: This door sign confirmed a door was in fact, a door
Eggcellent: This deli wanted to ensure its customers knew its eggs contained eggs
Bulk buy: One store advised its customers to double up for the same price
No entry: Here’s hoping nobody ignored this one!
One for all: This brand wanted to make sure it got full credit for the game it invented
Caution: These decorators wanted to make sure they covered all bases
Fake news: A newspaper reported that in order to take a trip, people had to travel
Totally tropical: So good they named it twice…
Life support: This woman went to great lengths to profess her undying love
Stand off: Skiers were warned at this resort that trees wouldn’t move out of their way
Heart of glass: This pharmacy had to warn its customers to open the glass door before stepping inside
Say cheese: Because you can never have enough cheese
Thirsty work: This sign where a drinking fountain used to be stated the obvious